Air India Express looks at more aircraft acquisition, denser network in 2026
The Tata Group promoted Air India Express (AIX) plans to further expand both domestic as well as international destinations on the back of a growing fleet in 2026.
Speaking to businessline, industry insiders cited that the new year will see the airline operate to Vietnam and enhance its presence in the Middle East sector during the upcoming summer schedule beginning this March.
In 2025, the airline added 12 new destinations across domestic and international markets. Currently, the airline operates to more than 60 destinations.
Operationally, the airline has over 500 daily flights connecting 45 domestic and 16 international destinations, including the recently launched Navi Mumbai.
According to an industry insider, the airline is focusing on various travel trends such as spiritual tourism.
Recently, it started services between Varanasi and Bangkok.
“To cater to a similar market, the airline is poised to start services to Vietnam in the coming year (2026),” the industry insider said.
On the Middle East front, industry experts said the airline is expected to increase frequencies to 13 of the Middle Eastern destinations.
As per industry experts, AIX network philosophy concentrates on depth of operations rather than expanding thin to more destinations. The foreign destinations, the airline connects typically see multiple flights to various domestic airports in tier 2 and 3 cities.
Besides, industry sources, said that as part of its rapid network expansion, the airline plans domestic expansion with new flights to Bhopal, Raipur, Khushinagar and Darbhanga among others.
Notably, the expansion comes on the back of a growing fleet of aircraft. In 2025, the airline acquired 25 aircraft, taking its fleet to over 100 jets. Experts said that aircraft deliveries are expected to maintain their current pace throughout 2026.
At present, the airline crossed the 100-aircraft mark, inducted its first retrofitted Boeing 737 MAX aircraft featuring new seats and in-seat power, and welcomed its first Airbus A321neo.
The Airbus A321neo is part of the 16 Airbus A320 family aircraft transferred from Air India. Meanwhile, Air India Express Managing Director Aloke Singh has described 2025 as the airline’s most transformative year so far.
In an address to employees, Singh said the year was marked by scale, renewal and renewed confidence, with a clear step-change in both fleet and network.
Furthermore, he said Air India Express became the first airline to operate from two airports in the National Capital Region with the launch of services from Hindon.
Additionally, Singh stated that the airline is trending well across key performance metrics, including net promoter score, on-time performance, occupancies, unit costs and revenues.
Moreover, he said the airline’s transformation agenda is now supported by key building blocks, including a modern and growing fleet, with new-generation aircraft accounting for about two-thirds of the fleet.
Singh pointed out a balanced domestic as well as international network footprint, and a product positioned for younger and experiential travellers across leisure, business and visiting friends and relatives segments.
In addition, he said the airline closed the year with two key milestones, including the induction of its first line-fit Boeing 737 MAX aircraft and the addition of Navi Mumbai International Airport to its network.
Published on January 13, 2026
